Joseph Ratzinger warns about a multitude of trials to superficially
undertake the subject of religion. In this diverse world of religion, he
sees some common points. The first step in the history of religion was
to transcend the primitive, moving into myth. Second, most important
step, was to leave the myth behind. This leaving is threefold – which is
represented by three irreducible shapes of religion: the identity
mysticism, the monotheistic revolution and the enlightenment. An
expression of the first two are, respectively: the identity mysticism
and the personal love mysticism. The fact that religions are affecting
each other must not be omitted, either. The place of Christianity in the
history of religion – nota bene gained by both, the
dialogue with other religions and standing against them – defines
standing with the God of faith and the God of the philosophers, and the
decisive choice of faith and mind together with the truth and the cult.
In his thoughts concerning the dialogue of religions, J. Ratzinger
points out two types: the mystical and theist, of the religion. Along
them walks as a temptation the pragmatic type, in which the question
about the truth is ignored. The result of the dialogue of the religions
will not be a unification of all religions. In this dialogue, the truth
cannot be ignored. At last, it cannot be forgotten that there is a religio
vera, and that it is Christianity.